Method of and apparatus for producing tax records and tax bills



March 11 1924;

I J. J. LANE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING TAX RECORDS AND TAX BILLS Filed March 28. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l ml a w w Patented Mar. ll, i924.

JOHN 5. LANE, or sr. Louis, iviissooni.

IWIETHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING TAX RECORDS AND TAX BILLS.

Application filed March 28, 1923.

" from separable blocks of permanent type used in series consisting of (A) the owners name, (B) a description by metes and bounds (O) a tabulation of the assessed value, taxation rate and amount of the tax. These items are subject to change (3) in the name of the owner, (4) in the assessed value, (5) in the rate (or rates, where State, county or city rates are involved), and amount of the tax.

From this combination of imprint blocks the tax-records are printed, and the tax-bill is produced by printing from the identicalcombination of imprint blocks which have previously been used to print the record book itself.

By this means the great cost of engrossing bills by hand from the tax-books is reduced to exactly the minimum cost at which the bills can be produced by any means whatsoever; and by this means all discrepancies between the tax-record-books and tax-bills is eliminated. Where the tax-book entries are correctly made the tax-bills are rendered free from error.

Drawings.

Fig. l is an elevation, partly in section, of an apparatus employed in the practice of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental plan view of a taxrecord sheet produced in the practice of my invention.

F ig. 4: is a plan View of a tax-bill produced from the same type-blocks used in Serial No. 628,337.

producing Fig. 3, by the practice of my invention.

Desmc'ptz'mt.

The record sheet of Fig. 3 is produced by means of a linotype caption block whose impression makes the caption D.

The ownersname block A is sectioned and removable from the property-description block B; and the block C is also sectioned and removable to provide for changes in assessed value, tax rate and total taxes.

The tax bill shown in Fig. l is printed from the caption used in the record-sheet shown in Fig. 3, plus the impression shown on the line E.

For the production of such individual bills I employ a proof-press F, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 wherein a track 5 carries a bed 6 holding the type frame 7, wherein are mounted the several blocks required to imprint a whole tax-record page, the type facing upwardly.

The frame 8 is supported on the pin 9 by the forks 10, and normally held in vertical position by the counter-balance weight 11.

A bill-sheet 12 is laid above the line or lines of type to be imprinted, an ink-ribbon 13 of the proper width first being placed over said line or lines of type, and so inter-- posed between said type and the bill-sheet 12; said ribbon 13 being secured at its ends to the cross-bars 14: ot the frame 8. A, plate 15 of suitable width is then laid upon the bill-sheet 12, and pressure applied to said plate 15 by the operation of the crank 16, secured to the shaft 17 whereon the cylinder 18 is mounted. At its ends the cylinder .18 has the concentric gears 19 engaging with the racks 20, projecting from the bed 6. The operation of the crank 16 draws the bed 6 beneath the cylinder 18, which presses the plate 15 upon the bill-sheet l2 and inln ribbon 13, thus printing the desired isolated items upon the bill-sheet 12.

While I have illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the parts adjusted to print a single taxbill, two or more tax-bills may be printed at a single operation, by the use of l11l I-l'll) bons 13 and plates 15 of various widths, to

reproduce any desired number of lines upon a single bill-sheet.

Mode of operation.

In compiling the original tax-record the owners names are alphabetically arranged, and the tax-bill numbers assigned in numerial order, as shown in the vertical columns in Fig. 3. Opposite the then owners name is a description of his realproperty, which will be given in the usual manner, by metes and bounds or otherwise.

This descritpion is permanent, so long as such real property is not sub-divided; when change of ownership occnrrs the descriptive type-block will be removed: from the frame and transferred to the new location in the record-type-frames determined by the location oi the new owners name.

Similarly, .s long as the assessed valuation and the tan-rates remain the same, those items will remain set up in type and unchanged. Vhen such assessed valuation or rates are changed, corresponding typechangeswill be made.

In this manner the tax-records from year to year will be printed from thesame standing frames of type (or like printing media,

such as stencil-plates), and changes in the printing medium will be made only when,

and to the extent that, they are made necessary by change of ownership, change of the property boundaries, change of official valuation, or change in the tax-rates.

When the tax-record for the taxation year has been printed, the several tax-billsand the cost of producing both tax-records,

and tax-bills is reduced to its minimum.

The frame 8 has an Lshaped extension 21, which is arranged to be engaged by the rotatable latch 22, so locking the frame 8 in operative position.

I claim 1. The method of producing tax-records and tax-bills comprising the assembling to 'ype arranged to imprint a tax-record page; then printing a tax-record page therefrom; then printing individual tax-bills from portions of said type.

2. The method consisting of the following steps; the assembling of characters arranged to print a tax-record page embodying a plurality of tax-entries; the imprinting of a tax-record page therefrom; segregating from said characters those relating to any number of said entries less than the whole; and the imprinting of one or more tax-bills therefrom.

3. The method of producing tax-records andtaxbill's comprising the assembling of a type-block describing property with other separate and removable type-blocks bearing respectively the name of the owner of said property the assessed value of said property, the tax-rate and the total amount of the tax; then printing a tax-record from the typeblocks so assembled; then printing an in-- dividual tax-bill from said type bloeks containing: the items chargeable to one tar:- source.

4. An apparatus for producing tax-reeords and tax-bills comprising a series of type-blocks in combination with a frame holding said type-blocks; a proof-press arranged to hold said frame; ink-ribbons carried by said frame and arranged to cover the items in said frame comprising a single tazebill; means for holding a tax-blank upon said ink-ribbon; and means for exerting pressnre upon the blank so held to print said single tax-bill thereon.

In testimony whereof I- have hereunto aiiixed my signature.

' JOHN J. LANE. 

